Inside the Erotic Cartoonist's Studio (6): The Censorship, Self-Censorship and Last-Minute Changes. Part one.

*Transcription*

Hello watchers!  

Today, we're diving into a pretty heavy topic: censorship. Yeah, it's kind of like that pendulum from Poe's stories, swinging over the heads of erotic artists like us. Sometimes it feels like it's miles away, other times it's right on top of us. How do I deal with it? What happens when you become your own worst censor? And I'll share a success story, like when Jezzabel pushed past my doubts and flipped the script in her favor, of course. 

The topic is so vast that it requires two videos because covering it all in one would be excessively lengthy. So, let's start with part one, and next month, I promise you the continuation along with an inking video of the Anne Bonny illustration with commentary.

The Invisible Enemy

I often refer to censorship as an invisible enemy because, in democratic countries, the "right to expression" is highly valued – it's enshrined in all constitutions, after all. So, you'd think it's a fundamental right, right? Yet, censorship lurks among us, not in the shadows, but right out in the open. Those of us who tackle topics like eroticism or politically incorrect themes often feel like fugitives, even though we're not breaking any laws. Strangely enough, we're the secret affair of the masses – loved, but kept hidden. It's as if we're an escape from the "perfect" way of life. I eagerly await the day when society proudly embraces its shadow and fearlessly embraces it. But until then, we'll keep on surviving.

I can't stress enough how detrimental censorship is. Imagine a world where there's no room for new ideas, where old ideas just keep marrying each other generation after generation, like some weird royal family. This kind of inbreeding could smother art and progress, leading to societies devoid of space for brilliant minds to thrive. It's completely unnatural to the essence of human nature.

Some people believe that censoring certain themes is necessary to protect the delicate minds of the population. It's like the evil of our times, leading to the infantilization of society. Remember how, back in the Victorian age, they covered up the likes of Milo's Venus and Michelangelo's David to safeguard morals? Sounds absurd, right? Yet here we are today, facing similar challenges. Personally, I believe that if a piece of art or creation doesn't align with your taste, then go ahead, create your own version, but don't go around forbidding what you don't like.  On the other hand, it's rather perplexing how gore and horror are deemed acceptable for television news broadcasts during all hours of the day. Love and pleasure are deemed taboo, yet murders, violence, and pain are not. It makes you wonder, doesn't it? We hardly seem like a healthy society.

Alright, let me share some of the censorship hurdles I've faced. It's a bit unnerving to think that there's a law out there banning Loli manga, but fortunately, that's not my genre. However, some of my characters do appear youthful, in their teens. How do you distinguish between a cartoon character who's eighteen and one who's seventeen? Do you ask for ID? Ridiculous, right? It's just a drawing, not a real person!

Recently, on Reddit, I found myself in a bit of an interrogation about Anne-Marie's age. I was almost tempted to call my lawyer! I gave what I thought was the perfect answer: she's barely legal, fully developed, and hairy – probably more than some hentai characters. In fact, she's 326 years old! But the interrogator wasn't buying it. Eventually, I told him he could imagine Anne's age however he liked. But despite my efforts, I got booted from the group because apparently, Anne looks young. I guess it's because her bust is on the smaller side. Poor Anne, discriminated against for her breast size! That's why Mademoiselle D'Artagnan boasts an E cup.

Something similar happened with Janah because of her A cup. I was particularly cautious with Janah's portrayal to ensure it didn't come across as an apology for slavery. In fact, I created Janah specifically to address historical injustices. I didn't feel right portraying only white people in the Caribbean during the 18th century. Unfortunately, black people in that time and place were often slaves. It's not my fault; it's history. So, I gave Janah a rebellious spirit and brought her into the world. But it's stressful to depict a black character when you're not black yourself. You're under scrutiny. Interestingly, I haven't faced similar scrutiny with Indian characters like the Princess.

You see, I strive to depict my female characters with diverse shapes and colors. I aim to infuse fairness and love into my comics, but regardless, there's always someone who takes offense. What can I do to please everybody? Nothing! It's impossible. So, the best course of action is to create in my own way, not give up, and remain steadfast against moralists. Fortunately, as a woman who delves into the sexuality of female characters, it's my right, and that's politically correct. So even if they don't appreciate what I do, I leave them without arguments. Sometimes, I imagine them struggling, wondering why I don't just stick to fairy tales. Oh, but I do! However, I like to add a bit of spice and darkness to my tales.

Censorship Champions

Ah, let's delve into the question! Who is to blame for our censorship problems? It's a dark triad: social media, economic platforms, and political interests. Now, I don't want to get too conspiratorial. Is there a new world order with high moral values? No, it's just a facade. As I mentioned before, when we embrace our shadows, we'll do better. In the meantime, it's all hypocrisy.

What social media platforms are the most censored? Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube, TikTok – and let's not even count Facebook because it's practically dead. These platforms are a nightmare for adult creators, yet we're compelled to stay for SEO reasons. In my case, I maintain a gallery on Instagram and Pinterest, but I update them sparingly because I don’t consider them my strong suits. Unfortunately, algorithms seem to have it out for me most of the time. Twitter was initially my hope, as I could post there without censorship, but even there, algorithms aren't my friends. Overall, it's challenging to gain traction on mainstream social media nowadays. That's why I consider platforms like DeviantArt – where I can't upload explicit drawings – Reddit, and Fetlife to be my true social media homes, in addition to Patreon.

I haven't talked about Google because it's not a social media platform, but it's a censorship champion too. That's why I consider it important to maintain a presence on Instagram and Pinterest. Otherwise, nobody would find me. The 'right' results would overshadow me, even if they're not accurate. It's a tough life, yeah.

But the worst is P*yP*l. It's the villain of the tale, and I have to take special care with it. What's my secret? I avoid dangerous words like pron, S E X or erotic. Also, it's important to avoid using female names in descriptions. Strange, right? It's insane. 

Do you see the pendulum swinging over my head? Tic-tac… tic-tac… Things could change in a second. An adult-friendly social media platform could decide to play the stock market and kick out all adult artists. That was the case with Tumblr, although they missed us a lot afterward. Or our marketplace could cancel our account. Fortunately, the good ones usually give you a warning. Tic-tac… tic-tac… That's why it's important not to put all our eggs in one basket and not to be discouraged when a setback comes. Don’t panic, and quick reactions are the best advice.

You know, it takes real courage to create erotic comics. Actually, I think all adult content creators need to be brave in today's climate. Even creators of children's content must tread carefully; I'd rather not imagine the challenges they face in their careers.

There's still more to discuss about censorship. You'll have to wait for the second part where I'll delve into self-censorship and how Jezzy came to my rescue.  She’s my heroine!!